Rhemes against Rome: or, The remoouing of the gagg of the new Gospell, and rightly placing it in the mouthes of the Romists, by the Rhemists in their English translation of the Scriptures. Which counter-gagg is heere fitted by the industrious hand of Richard Bernard ...

This Purgatorie pick-purse is confuted by their owne Bible.

First, in their Bible wee may finde all the places which euer God made, Heauen, Earth, Sea, and Hell; but it no where na∣meth any place called Purgatorie. Therefore there is no such place of Gods making.

Secondly, in their Bible we may finde only two sorts of per∣sons, Elect and Reprobate, Sheepe and Goates, blessed and cursed, Math. 25. 34, 41. Not a meane betweene both. Two gates and wayes, the strait and narrow, the broad and wide, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Two kindes of workes, good and euill, 2. Cor. 5. 10. A twofold reward, pu∣nishment euerlasting, and life euerlasting, Mat. 25. 46. Two pla∣ces to receiue the reward in; the kingdome prepared for the e∣lect from the beginning of the world, Math. 25. 34. and fire euerlasting, prepared for the Deuill and his angels, verse 41.

Thirdly, it affords vs many texts against it.

Iohn 5. 24. The hearer and beleeuer in Christ hath euerlasting life, and he commeth not into iudgement, but shall passe from death, into life. If he come not into iudgement, hee cannot be cast into a place of punishment. To such as be in Christ, there is no condemnation, saith Paul, Rom. 8. 1. For by Gods grace are wee iustified gratis by redemption that is in Christ, Rom. 3. 24. and hee hath set vs free, Ioh. 8. 36. free from sinne, both in re∣spect of the guilt, as also of punishment. Else how are we free? Are Gods workes imperfect?

2. Cor. 5. 1. Wee know that if our earthly house of this habi∣tation be dissolued, that we haue a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in heauen. Saint Paul speakes of himselfe, and of all true Christians, in this word wee: of whom he saith, that after death, they haue their house for euer in heauen; hee puts no lodging or Inne of Purgatory betweene. And in the tenth verse of the same Chapter hee saith, that at the last Day euery one is to receiue as hee hath done in this bodie. So whilest man liueth here in bodie, and not as hee

suffers in soule in Purgatorie, is hee considered.

Heb. 10. 14. By one oblation hath hee consummated for euer those that are sanctified. Note here 1. That Christ hath made an oblation for his. 2. That this is but one. 3. That this one* 1.1 hath consummate and made his perfect. 4. And that for euer. So as in verse 17. its said, that their sinnes and iniquities I will now remember no more. And will he yet punish them in Pur∣gatory? Will he cleanse them from all sinne, pardon all offences, not imputing sinne, Rom. 4. 8. and yet will he exact a satisfacti∣on? Its vnreasonable to thinke it.

1. Thes. 4. 17. Where the Apostle speakes of those aliue at the last Day, to be onely changed, and so taken vp to Christ. All the elect at that time shall escape Purgatorie; or it may bee, it will then be blowne out, or it and hell turned into one.

Ephes. 1. 10. Here the Apostle speaketh of perfecting all in Christ, in heauen and in earth. Note how hee here onely men∣tioneth two places, in which those be, who haue benefit by Christ: those in Heauen, and in Earth. The Apostle forgot them which were frying in Purgatorie. If Saint Paul had beleeued such a place, where hope of Saluation had beene, would he haue left those soules comfortlesse?

Reu. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord, for they rest from their labours. Where rest is, there is no torment. It were small comfort to thinke this to be spoken of the body, for so beasts and beastly men rest. Also to vnderstand it of the soule, that it rests from the feeling of temptations to sinne, and from feare of damnation, and yet to be in hellish torments for sinne, they not knowing how long. What a rest may this be called? Let them shew where the word rest is ascribed to any, and that they are blessed and doe rest, while they be in flaming torments? Thus the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 henceforth pointeth at the pre∣sent transition to blessednesse.

Math. 16. 19. and 18. 18. Here is mention of the Churches power to loose on earth; but not in Purgatorie, except Purga∣torie be on earth. Not Peter, nor the Pope hath any power al∣lowed by Christ from these Scriptures, to meddle with any bin∣ding or loosing of any after death, but onely in this life. Note

this, you Papists, which rest so much on the Popes power, and helpe of friends after death.

Luk. 23. 43. The good thiefe went forthwith into Paradise, which is heauen, 2. Cor. 18. 2, 4. So Lazarus into Abrahams bosome, Luk. 16. 22. Both escaped Purgatorie: the one, vnder the Law; and the other, vnder the Gospell.

In all the old Testament there was no sacrifice ordained for soules of the departed. When Aaron offered incense, it was onely for the liuing, to pacifie Gods displeasure towards them: but not for the dead, Numb. 16. 48.

Wisd. 3. 1. The soules of the iust are in the hand of God; and torment shall not touch them. So doth Montanus translate true∣ly, according to the Greeke text. But in Purgatory is torment, and therefore iust mens soules are not in Purgatory: for they are in peace, ver. 4. What can bee more direct against their Pur∣gatorie?

Hee that desires more Scriptures according to our translati∣on, let him reade a booke intituled Ignisfatuus, where are al∣ledged out of the Old Testament, Ezech. 18. 22. Esai. 57. 1. Eccles. 12. 7. Psal. 32. 1, 2. Psal. 51. 7. Esai. 53. 4. Leu. 1. 3, 6. Out of the New Testament, 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Heb. 1. 3. 1. Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 10. 14. Rom. 6. 23. & 8. 33. & 5. 1. Reu. 14. 13. 2. Cor. 5. 1. Col. 1. 20. Gal. 6. 8. Ioh. 9. 4. 2. Cor. 4. 17, 18. Mar. 11. 25. Col. 2. 13. Mat. 6. 12. Ioh. 10. 18. Gal. 5. 22. All which places are vrged in forme of reasoning.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Col 2. 13, 4. 1. Ioh. 1. 7.